Okowa asks new judges to be impartial

…as state varsity sacks two lecturers for academic fraud

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, charged four new judges to exhibit impartiality, integrity and proper judicial temperament expected of them as judges.

Okowa, who sworn them in at Government House in Asaba, asked them to pursue quick dispensation of justice in the state.

The judges are Diai Christopher Dumebi, Odebala Ekuogbe Obaro, Gesikeme-Akebofah Mary and Akumagba Ete Francis. They are appointed for the Customary Court of Appeal.

The governor said: “As you commence your journey as privileged members of the bench, you will consistently demonstrate and exhibit qualities of impartiality, courage, integrity, patience, humility, wisdom and commonsense.”

While congratulating the appointees, Okowa called on them to display ethical conduct, saying: “One of the things you must guard against is frivolous use of injunctions and frequent adjournments of cases, which do not only lead to delay and congested courts but also contribute to negative perception of the judiciary in the court of public opinion. You have an obligation to see to it that justice is not only served but also seen to be served so that the judiciary does not lose the confidence of the public from which it ultimately derives its authority.”

Responding on behalf of the appointees, Justice Dumebi assured the governor that they would uphold the judicial oath sworn to at all times without fear or favour.

MEANWHILE, the Governing Council of Delta State University of Science and Technology (DSUST), Ozoro, has sacked two lecturers of the institution over academic fraud.

A statement published in the university’s bulletin said the lecturers were sacked after being found guilty of false claim of researched drone fabrication, fraudulent computer-based examination (CBE), extortion, embezzlement and falsification of students’ results.

The statement reads: “This is to inform the university community that the university Governing Council, at its 3rd regular meeting on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, approved the recommendations of the Staff Disciplinary Committee, wherein two lecturers, Dr. Bassy A. Ekanem and Dr. Jacob A. Meye, were dismissed with immediate effect.

“Recall that they were involved in fraudulent researched drone fabrication, plagiarism, false claim of ownership of patented drone, fraudulent failed Computer Base Examination (CBE), money extortion, embezzlement and falsification of student’s result.

“Consequently, they were found guilty of gross misconduct, arising from the monumental fraud in the projects indicated above, they have been dismissed from the services of the university.”